Galva native tabbed for a key role at GOP convention

Wednesday

Jun 6, 2012 at 12:01 AMJun 6, 2012 at 5:13 AM

At first, you might not think of a girl who grew up in Galva as one of “the nation’s most respected political operatives,” but that’s how organizers of the 2012 Republican National Convention described Anne Hathaway, 1978 graduate of Galva High School, in a press release announcing the convention’s four-person leadership team.

It’s been a few years since I’ve heard from Anne. She was once my secret shopper. Being a bachelor who doesn’t like to browse stores looking for gifts, I would make one stop right before Christmas each year at Hathaway’s True Value Hardware and Gift Barn in Galva. I would meet up with Anne, daughter of owners Jack and Mary Hathaway, who was working there while home on Christmas break from the University of Illinois. Anne helped me pick out just the right gifts from a new wrench set for Dad to a decorative candle for my sister. She also did the giftwrapping. I would not have survived Christmas without her.

Dave Clarke

At first, you might not think of a girl who grew up in Galva as one of “the nation’s most respected political operatives,” but that’s how organizers of the 2012 Republican National Convention described Anne Hathaway, 1978 graduate of Galva High School, in a press release announcing the convention’s four-person leadership team.
It’s been a few years since I’ve heard from Anne. She was once my secret shopper. Being a bachelor who doesn’t like to browse stores looking for gifts, I would make one stop right before Christmas each year at Hathaway’s True Value Hardware and Gift Barn in Galva. I would meet up with Anne, daughter of owners Jack and Mary Hathaway, who was working there while home on Christmas break from the University of Illinois. Anne helped me pick out just the right gifts from a new wrench set for Dad to a decorative candle for my sister. She also did the giftwrapping. I would not have survived Christmas without her.
If there’s one thing Anne Hathaway knows more about — than just about anybody — it’s politics.
She started working with political campaigns after college on the local and district level. Then, in 1985 she headed to Washington, D.C., where she landed a job working for Secretary of the Treasury James Baker. She then moved to the White House as chief aide to Marilyn Quayle, wife of Vice President Dan Quayle.
During the first Bush administration she became a key aide not only to Mrs. Quayle, but also to her husband, a relationship that continued after they left the White House. One of my most cherished possessions is a copy of Quayle’s 1996 memoirs, “Standing Firm,” autographed by the former vice president himself, which she sent as a Christmas gift to apologize for not being able to be back in Galva helping me do my shopping.
Last week, Anne sent me an “it’s been awhile” e-mail with a “here’s what I’m doing this summer” copy of the convention news release attached. She says, by the way, that she is still a Star Courier subscriber and reads the column. We appreciate the support!
According to the letterhead, she is still in Indianapolis, where she has been for the past several years, landing there after the White House years with the Quayles, who are from Indy. She is now president of something called Hathaway Strategies which, I’m guessing, is some sort of GOP think tank.
The press release announces the appointment of four political operatives, including Hathaway, to manage various aspects of the national convention which will be held Aug. 27-30 at the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times Forum.
William Harris, chief executive officer for the Committee on Arrangements, said Hathaway will serve as convention program director. According to the accompanying background, she is “a former Republican National Committee Chief of Staff, and an Indiana-based campaign veteran whose experiences range from volunteering in local congressional races to working in the White House.” Her job will be to coordinate convention program activities.
The other three appointees include Todd Cranney, currently deputy political director for the Mitt Romney presidential campaign, who will be director of delegate outreach; Tony Feather, who served as political director for President George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign, who will serve as director of whip operations; and Jim Dyke, who has worked on four presidential campaigns and served as senior advisor to George W.
“Kinda cool for a kid from Galva!” Anne wrote.
“We’re extremely fortunate to be able ti engage this tremendously savvy group of seasoned political veterans,” Harris said of the new leadership team. “They’ll bring to the convention a formidable set of skills, both individually and collectively.”
Anne says, “I’ve been lucky to go places and do things that some can only dream about, but Galva is and will always be home.” She said there is truly such a thing as the Midwestern work ethic, which has done her well, “and, I am lucky to have great parents who told me I could do anything I put my mind to…”
Now, she will be making history once again on the Republican Party’s national stage.
Go, Wildcats!

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